Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Cyclist on Thames Road | |
Posted by: | Adam Beamish | |
Date/Time: | 23/07/14 09:12:00 |
I've never, in over 20 years of cycling regularly in London and other cities and the countryside, had any kind of altercation with a driver whilst cycling, be it verbal or physical. Occasionally I might gesture in a non-threatening nor offensive/abusive way that a driver didn't leave me any space, but most of the time I just shake my head whilst smiling. Not saying it doesn't happen (there's videos on Youtube that show it does) but generally speaking there's no smoke without fire, often I read in the papers how a cyclist and a car driver had some kind of disagreement which ended up in court because either one or both parties "lost the plot". Driving to work this morning I was behind a recreational cyclist who was on the road but shouldn't have been, no hand signals when approaching junctions, turning left without signalling and then not controlling his bike so he'd end up in the middle of the lane as he turned, and then finally sailing through a red light at Worton Road/Twickenham Road junction. When I passed him further down the road, as there was no traffic behind me I slowed to his speed, and through my open passenger door window politely but firmly said "what about that red light ?" and then carried on my way. We then met at the next junction where I was stationary and as he pulled up I just said "you went straight through that red light, I cycle most days and it's people like you that give us all a bad name" - cue absolute silence from him. Far too much to expect an apology but at least he didn't give me any verbal abuse, which was exactly what I was expecting. |